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Those who live by the sword die by the sword

Posted: May 6, 2011 - 7:28pm

RELIGION

On May 1, 1945, Adolph Hitler put a bullet through his head committing suicide before swarms of Russian soldiers could get to him. On May 1, 2011, Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. Navy SEALS in his hideaway. Adolph Hitler had been responsible for millions of deaths beyond the six million Jews killed in concentration camps. Osama Bin Laden had been responsible for the deaths by terrorism of thousands of his fellow Muslims as well as thousands of Americans on September 11, 2001, and more thousands of our servicemen in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Jesus said in Matthew 26:52 “…all who take the sword shall perish by the sword.” Hitler chose to “live by the sword” even though the swords had become guns and bombs by his time. The History Channel had a great presentation on World War II the other night and showed the Germans bombing England. As the war progressed, England built up its Royal Air Force and began to bomb Germany. In one great bombing raid on Dresden, 1,000 RAF bombers practically obliterated that great, formerly beautiful city in hopes that raid would cause Germany to capitulate. It didn’t and the rest of the raids left practically every city in rubble. I am sure by the end of the War, the German leaders had wished they had never initiated the violence they did as it returned to them with dreadful consequences.

Osama bin Laden, in setting off the terrorist bombings of American Embassies in Somalia and Africa, targeting the USS Cole and bringing on 9/11, did not consider what would happen to Afghanistan, and later to Iraq, and recently to Egypt. Nor did he consider that instead of being a hero he would be despised by millions of his own people and would end up causing the deaths by terrorism of many of the 150,000 Muslims who have died in recent Gulf encounters. As some said, hiding in caves and unable to be in public places may well have caused him to ask if it was worth it. For Christian nations to go to war against Muslim nations and even occupying several of them was not his plan. I wonder how many times he asked, “Was it worth it?”

Life is a boomerang! What we send out comes back. Or, as Solomon said, “Cast thy bread upon the waters and after many days it shall return to thee.” Emperor Hirohito and Admiral Yamamoto were likely elated over the destruction of Pearl Harbor’s surprise attack and the early victories of the Pacific War. After Guadalcanal and the bombings of Japan and the loss of many men, ships, planes and property, do you wonder if they felt it was worth it? Those who live by the sword…gun…cannon, etc. shall perish by the same.

When will we learn General Sherman was right; war is Hell! And look what it costs. May we learn “to study war no more” and build the peace that brings the maximum quality of life for all?

Bob Cuttino, pastor emeritus at the Baptist Church of Beaufort, is pastor of Sea Island and Indigo Pines chapels, a teacher and writer. He can be reached at 521-0152.